• Mexico’s forward #16 Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Mexico forward Julián Quiñones etched his name into World Cup history on Thursday by scoring the first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

AFP reported that Quiñones struck in the ninth minute of the tournament’s opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, sending the home crowd into celebration.

The goal marked the first of the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. It also made Quiñones the first player to find the net at the tournament, earning a place in World Cup folklore.

Playing in front of a packed Azteca Stadium, Quiñones capitalized on Mexico’s early pressure to break the deadlock and give the hosts a dream start to their campaign.

The 2026 World Cup, the largest in FIFA history, features 104 matches and will conclude with the final in New Jersey on July 19.

Image credit : AFP

Global music stars Shakira and Burna Boy delivered a high-energy performance of “Dai Dai” during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thrilling fans with a vibrant display of music and dance.

Shakira took to the stage following a performance by J Balvin and immediately energized the crowd with the opening verse of the tournament’s official song.

The Colombian superstar showcased her signature dance moves before Burna Boy emerged on stage to a deafening roar from spectators.

The pair danced together as fans cheered throughout the performance.

“Dai Dai” serves as the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 song and also supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aimed at expanding access to education around the world.

Backed by a troupe of dancers, Shakira delivered a polished choreography routine, while Burna Boy matched the energy with his own dance moves alongside his dance crew.

The performance reached a rousing finale as both artists came together at center stage to lead the crowd in the song’s closing refrain, singing: “Dale, allez, let’s go!”

• Image credit: FIFA

The FIFA World Cup 2026, kicked off today 11 June in Mexico city stadium by 20.00 local time.

Mexico and South Africa in Group A are opening the match, the team they faced at the same stage of the tournament in 2010.

The focus will then shift to Guadalajara, where Asia and Europe are represented as Korea Republic do battle with a Czechia side still on a high from their success in the UEFA play-offs.

Who will end Matchday 1 with the upper hand in Group A?

Details later.